Publishing Portal--February 3, 2025

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

 The Kiss of Night

In anticipation of our upcoming release, The Kiss of Night by Mark Wukas, we asked some friends for their opinion of Mark’s novel. Their responses confirm we made the right choice in deciding to publish it. Here’s some advance praise.

     "Here is a book that deserves a place among your favorite Chicago novels. Written with a reporter’s sharp eye and attention to detail and colorful characters, The Kiss of Night brings the city alive in all its good/evil struggles, giving you a story that is vivid and unforgettable."

--Rick Kogan

Chicago Tribune

     "Mark Wukas has captured the essence of young reporters fueled by adrenaline and idealism. Their reporting is as unglamorous as it is thankless. Yet while reading The Kiss of Night I found myself yearning for those days when chasing a story was unvarnished and pure. The Kiss of Night is the real thing and makes for a compelling read from start to finish."

--Ken Paulson

Editor-in-Chief (emeritus)

USA Today

     "Mark Wukas succeeds in creating sympathetic characters that have exceptional depth. ... The detailed descriptions of Chicago give the work a feeling of verisimilitude and paint a vivid picture of the city. ... The relationships between the characters remain dynamic, and the story’s mystery elements are well executed throughout. An often-thrilling crime novel that explores questions of loyalty, justice, and morality."

--Kirkus Reviews

     "The Kiss of Night is well-structured, the narrative quickly paced, the characters interesting and entirely believable, and the writing sharp and clean. Mark Wukas has created a narrator whose ethical and worldly coming of age echoes that of many readers. Intelligent, flawed, and increasingly self-critical, the narrator retains our compassion throughout."

--Robert N. Georgalas

Author of Deep Focus, Nothing Lost, All That Remains, and Unscheduled Stops

     "The Kiss of Night is a powerful exploration of why our world is simply not black/white, good/evil but infinite permutations of gray."

                                 --Wendi Williams

                                   Invest To Elect Illinois

=Next week it will go on pre-sale at Eckhartz Press.

I Bear Witness

=Dan McNeil is still making the rounds. He has two upcoming appearances this weekend on Super Bowl Sunday (including Doc's in Dyer from 1-3pm). In March, he'll begin his library tour. He also appeared on the Chicago Bears Podcast...

The Flip Side

=One of the most unique podcasts out there is Car Con Carne, where host James VanOsdol interviews his guests in his car. This week he has two Eckhartz Press people on with him, Ken Churilla and Jeff "Mr. Cheap" Schwartz, talking about our great book, The Flip Side.

Belle & Leaving Glory for Greatness

=February is Black History Month and Eckhartz Press proudly has a fiction and non-fiction reading choice for you to help celebrate it. Judy Ann Jamerson's haunting novel Belle is the heartbreaking story of a mother struggling with the reality of the unimaginable death of her daughter. Lou Macaluso's biography of football star-turned-civil rights hero LaMarr Thomas (Leaving Glory for Greatness) is a such an inspirational work, it is being taught at his alma mater (Thornton). 

  

Staying Alive is a Lot of Work

=Pat Camalliere's book is the focus of the latest episode of the Chicago Writes podcast hosted by Bill Turck. Pat does a great job explaining the struggles she endured, and the incredible memoir it inspired. They also go into great depth about the Chicago suburb of Lemont and why it is so important to her. Highly recommended.

RADIO HALL OF FAME

=From Feb. 1 to April 1 you may submit suggestions for possible honorees for consideration by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee at radiohalloffame.com. The ceremony is in Chicago this year. We have a few suggestions for you from our stable of authors. John Records Landecker is already in there, but what about...

Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise)

Bobby Skafish (We Have Company)

Chet Coppock (Your Dime My Dance Floor)

Chuck Swirsky (Always a Pleasure)

=Steve & Garry are already in there, and so is Jonathon Brandmeier, but how about these all-time greats who contributed to our book The Loop Files...

Bob Stroud

Kevin Matthews

=Or these all-time greats who contributed to Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name...

Fred Winston

Tommy Edwards

Bob Sirott

=Help us remind the world that Chicago is the epicenter of all-time great radio.

EveryCubEver

=Author Rick Kaempfer is hard at work writing the latest edition of EveryCubEver. It's scheduled to be released around Opening Day. In the meantime, follow along on his Facebook page JustOneBadCentury. Every single day he has a piece about a Cub. Here's an example from last Thursday...

Monkey in the Middle

=In 2016, comedian Dobie Maxwell wrote one our best selling books, the incredibly memorable Monkey in the Middle. That book still sells even though it came out in 2016. Dobie is currently co-hosting a podcast called Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is. Episode 19 posted this week.

Truffle Hunt

=The official 10th anniversary of the book will be next Friday (Feb 14), but Truffle Hunt author Brent Petersen has been writing excellent pieces at his DestinationEatDrink substack about the inspiration that led to this novel. Here's the ultimate piece about that: How Did This All Get Started?

Happy Anniversary!

This week in 2014 (February 8), Joel Daly got his first copy of his Eckhartz Press book (The Daly News). On this day in 2022 (February 6), Eric Litt had the same experience, getting the first copy of Oscars Biggest Mistakes. By the way, it's almost that time of year again. Look for Eric to appear on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview in the coming weeks with his Oscar picks.

   

The Loop Files

=Two big events in the book The Loop Files took place this week in history. On February 6, 1981, Steve & Garry were fired by the Loop for "violating community standards." It was a huge shock at the time that has never been satisfactorily explained. Also, this week in 2023, Johnny B re-emerged to appear on WGN-TV as a mystery guest.

   

=Also, celebrating a birthday this week (February 6), former Loop late-nighter Ed Tyll. You may not like what he says, but he'll say it anyway, Ed Tyll. Ed has a new book out, by the way. You can find that here. 

We Have Company

=Bobby Skafish's tome about his 40 years of rock and roll encounters is like a history book of the genre, written by someone who personally met and interviewed the biggest stars imaginable. One of the greats featured in the book is celebrating a birthday this week, Graham Nash (below/February 2)

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=Chet Coppock was friends with George Halas, founder of the Bears and the NFL. Chet went to every opening game for the Bears for 68 straight years. When Papa Bear died in 1983, Chet broke the story on the local news (he was doing sports at Channel 5 at the time).  He also wrote about him in his Eckhartz Press book. Papa Bear was born this week (February 2) in 1895.

 

Death of the Angels

 =On the 60th anniversary of one of Chicago's most tragic fires, at Our Lady of the Angels school, veteran television reporter and producer (ABC-7, WGN-TV) Alex Burkholder released his comprehensive study of that fire, which included his well researched theory of how that fire began. WGN-TV's Steve Sanders (celebrating a birthday this week February 3) brought Alex (middle) onto the midday news to discuss it, along with one of the grown kids who survived the fire.

Ike & Me

=Rich King wrote a book in 2022 called Ike & Me, about his relationship with cameraman Richard "Ike" Isaacs. The Black & White team worked together for decades under the guidance of former WGN-TV sports director Dan Roan. Both Rich and Ike speak highly of this week's birthday boy (February 3) in the book.

Behind The Glass

=If it seems like there is no end to the sports stars featured in Randy Merkin's book Behind the Glass, you aren't far off. For instance, Hank Aaron and Alonzo Mourning (photo), both born this week (Feb 5 & 8 respectively), each rate their own chapters. But sports stars aren't the only big names in the book. Tom Brokaw (Feb 6)  and Jack Lemmon (Feb 8) are in the book too.

Grammar Moses

=This week in 2022, The Daily Herald's Jim O'Donnell wrote about our Christmas of 2021's big hit Grammar Moses by Jim Baumann. 

Safe Inside

=This week in 2018, Lee Kingsmill appeared on Nick Digilio's show to talk about his Book of the Year finalist Safe Inside.

$everance

=Look what book is once again relevant...

Free Kicks

Our latest episode. The transfer window closes this weekend, so we discuss some of the moves made by Premier League clubs. https://t.co/eU8yt0kUal

— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) January 31, 2025

Publishing Portal--January 27, 2025

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

Introducing Mark Wukas

=We're awaiting the proof from the printer for our next novel, The Kiss of Night by Mark Wukas. When it arrives next week, we'll put the novel up for pre-sale. In the meantime, who is Mark Wukas?

Mark Wukas has spent his life in Chicago working as professional asker of questions as both a teacher and writer--and sometimes both at the same time.

     A native South Sider and graduate of Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Wukas credits his high school job--two years as an Andy Frain usher--with giving him a knowledge of the city and its neighborhoods that helped him on the streets as a young reporter.

     After receiving his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and spending two happy years at The Daily Illini, he returned to his high school alma mater to teach English before embarking on a 20-year career in journalism and professional writing. His stops included The Palos Regional, City News Bureau, United Press International, Radio Free Europe, and he spent several years being “Special to the Tribune.” To supplement his meager pay as a writer, Wukas returned to teaching literature and composition as an adjunct professor at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Columbia College and Roosevelt University. 

     Wukas left public relations to return to the classroom, and after a year teaching world history and senior writing at Fasman Yeshiva in Skokie, Ill., he landed a job teaching English at New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Ill., where he spent 19 years teaching English and coaching cross country and track and field before retiring in 2021. 

     Wukas lives in either Uptown or Edgewater, depending upon where realtors draw the line, and spends his time writing the stories he never had time to tell while teaching and coaching.

 

Last Comiskey

=Author Ken Smoller spent the morning on Tuesday (January 21) at WGN-TV. Thanks to everyone there (Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten, Pat Tomasulo. Paul Konrad, and Mike Toomey) for being gracious hosts as always.

=You can watch the video here...
=The Daily Herald wrote a nice piece about Ken this week.

=Then on Saturday, Ken made two appearances in the Chicago area. First he did a presentation for White Sox fans at Paterno's Pizza and Bar on the Northwest Side, and then he appeared at AU Sports in Morton Grove. Here are a few photos...

 

=Dan Evans is celebrating a birthday this week (January 27). The former White Sox executive provided a blurb for Ken Smoller's book...

• Last Comiskey is a profound work, professionally and personally stirring memories of a ballpark that was unique in its visuals, scents, quirks, noise, intimacy, and history. We gathered there to have fun and enjoy baseball. I’m grateful to Matt Flesch and Ken Smoller for rekindling such beautiful times.

  Dan Evans, White Sox Executive (1981-2000); Assistant General Manager, Director Player Operations

To the Men I've Loved (God Help Them)

=Congrats to Eckhartz Press author Pat Motto for her mention in the latest Illinois Alumni Magazine...

    "Patricia A. Motto, ’69 LAS, MA ’72 LAS, published To the Men I’ve Loved (God Help Them) (Eckhartz Press, 2024). The memoir traces Motto’s infatuation with a boy in kindergarten through to her dalliance with a professional baseball player and beyond."

The Flip Side

=This week in 1989 (January 31) Warrant released their album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin Rich. You can guess what happened next. That's right, an in-store appearance at Flip Side. You may recognize this photo from the book...

Truffle Hunt

=In some ways Brent Petersen is the ultimate Eckhartz Press success story. Ten years ago he came to us with a foodie novel about truffles. It's not only a wonderful novel, it helped launch a whole career for Brent. He started his own website (Destination Eat Drink) and his own podcast (Destination Eat Drink) and is now one of the foremost foodie experts in the world. As we count down to the tenth anniversary of Truffle Hunt, Brent is using his substack (Destination Eat Drink) to highlight Truffle Hunt. This piece is called The Food Critic. Look for more features dropping every Monday for the next few weeks. The actual anniversary is February 14.

Joe Jackson, Plaintiff, vs. Chicago American League Baseball Club, Defendant

=Great article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about our Joe Jackson trial transcript. This is the 101st anniversary of the trial, and the transcript had never been seen before we published it in 2023. 

The Unplanned Life

=This week in 2011 (February 1), Roger Badesch was one of the people stuck on Lake Shore Drive during a horrible snowstorm. He called into WGN Radio (where he worked) and provided a truly amazing play-by-play of the mayhem until his phone battery died and he had to abandon the car. That inspired this cover photo (taken that day) for his book, which was published by Eckhartz Press in 2020. 

Always a Pleasure

This week in 2023 (January 30), Chicago lost one of the greatest players to ever wear a Blackhawks uniform, Bobby Hull. Chuck Swirsky features Bobby in his Eckhartz Press book Always a Pleasure.

The Living Wills

=The Living Wills is the first book we ever published, and it remains one of our best selling books largely thanks to the passion of co-author Brendan Sullivan. This week last year, 12 years after it's release, he was still doing appearances promoting it.

    Brendan: I had the pleasure of discussing "The Living Wills," the novel I wrote (with Rick Kaempfer) at another book club meeting. We discussed our unique creative writing process, as well as the plot and character development. Wonderful members of the "Let's Get Lit" club in Bolingbrook, IL. You can learn more about the novel (and/or order a copy) at the publisher, Eckhartz Press, And I'm always available to meet with any book club who wants to talk to the author. Always a fun evening. I'm a low maintenance guest. Very proud of "The Living Wills."

Down at the Golden Coin

=This week in 2012 (February 1), We released our second book ever, Down at the Golden Coin by Kim Strickland. It's a fun and quirky novel about meeting the Messiah at a laundromat.

Nose Over Toes

=This week in 2019 (February 1), pre-sales began for Nose Over Toes by Janet Sutherland. It's the harrowing but inspiring  tale of Janet's recovery from a brain aneurysm.

Surviving Sue

=A wonderful new review of Surviving Sue.

=Also, congrats to Surviving Sue author Vicki Atkinson and her co-host Wynne for reaching a milestone this past week. 

Podcast Friday! Celebrating #100 🎉🙂🎉 @wynneleon.bsky.social sharingtheheartofthematter.com/2025/01/24/e...

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— Dr.Vicki Atkinson (@vickiatkinson.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM

The Loop Files

=One of the photos in the book (below) was taken this week in 1992 (January 31).  The Loop held a Blood Drive and the following Loop jocks showed up to help. (L-R: Terry Gibson, John Fisher, Wendy Snyder, Rick Kaempfer, Stan Lawrence)

=Another person mentioned prominently in the book, Jack Silver, is celebrating a birthday this week (January 28).

The Daly News

=Here's a trivia question for you. Who was the first (and last) news anchor to co-anchor a newscast in Chicago with Oprah Winfrey (celebrating a birthday this week/Jan 29)? That would be Eckhartz Press author Joel Daly, who tells that memorable tale in the pages of The Daly News. Here's the video proof...

Records Truly Is My Middle Name

=John Landecker's memoir was a Book of the Year finalist in 2013. This week in 2016 (January 29), Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner passed away. John had a great story about his brush with the band, so we offered up that section as a free except. You can read it here.

=The great thing about this book is the timelessness of it. A full five years later (this week in 2018, January 30) John Landecker appeared on WGN radio with Justin Kaufmann to talk about the book. Ironically, after Justin left the station, Landecker was named as the new host of that timeslot. Co-author Rick Kaempfer talked to him about that same book last time he was on the air with him, in the fall of 2023.

Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars

=Bill Paige's 2017 Eckhartz Press book has a ton of great interviews with rock stars, including two were born this week in history, Eddie Van Halen (January 26) and Phil Collins (January 30). That's the scribe below...

Monkey in the Middle

=This week in 2016 (February 1), Eckhartz Press author Dobie Maxwell debuted his new radio show, The Diabetic Show on WGTD. Just a year later he stopped by Steve Cochran's show on WGN radio to talk about his book Monkey in the Middle.

Safe Inside

=Lee Kingsmill's novelized memoir Safe Inside had a lot of big fans (including the CWA who named it a Book of the Year finalist in 2018). One of them was fellow author (and this week's birthday boy/January 30) Dan Callahan, who wrote the definitive biographies of Vanessa Redgrave and Barbara Stanwyck. Here is what he wrote about Lee's book: 

    “This beautifully written and sensitive novel about growing up in Chicago in the 1940s and ’50s and falling in love with the movies is that rare thing, a story that totally recreates a vanished world. Every detail of both place and character is so closely observed and evocative that you feel like you are there. ”